South African police are investigating the deaths of nine women whose bodies have been found over two months across the Ekurhuleni municipality east of Johannesburg, as authorities examine whether the cases are linked.
The discoveries have prompted the South African Police Service (SAPS) to warn women to take care when jogging or doing similar activities in the area. Police have urged women around Kempton Park to avoid walking or running alone, “particularly in isolated areas”.
The first victim, a 37-year-old woman, was found naked and bound with cable ties on 15 July. Police arrested a suspect two days later in connection with that case. The suspect remains in custody, though police have not said whether the person is connected to any of the later deaths.
A 32-year-old woman was found partially clothed on 24 August. Elizabeth 'Tsontso' Moselakgomo, 38 years old, disappeared after leaving home for an afternoon run. Her body was found three days later behind a hotel in Kempton Park.
Police have also included in the wider inquiry the discovery of a woman’s body in a river near the Tembisa township on 7 September. A ninth body was found on Thursday morning in Dawn Park, half-naked and wrapped in a sheet beside a road.
The latest victim is believed to have been in her 30s. Police said she appeared to have bruises, stab wounds and a cut throat. Most of the women were found either partly clothed or naked, and some showed signs of sexual violence.
The bodies have been found in several parts of Ekurhuleni, including Kempton Park, Olifantsfontein, Clayville and KwaThema.
Police have not confirmed that a serial killer is responsible. They are also considering whether a group of people may be behind the killings.
Athlenda Mathe, a police spokesperson, said: “While investigations are still underway and SAPS has not, at this stage, confirmed that the deaths are linked to a serial killer, the similarities are sufficiently concerning for the police to issue a public warning and intensify investigations”.
SAPS has assembled a multidisciplinary team that includes detectives, intelligence officers, forensic experts and other specialists. The police have offered a reward of 400,000 rand ($24,500; £18,000) for “information that could lead to a breakthrough in the investigation”.
President Cyril Ramaphosa said “no stone will be left unturned” in the effort to find those responsible.
The investigation comes against a wider backdrop of gender-based violence in South Africa. UN Women says the rate at which women are killed in the country is five times higher than the global average.
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